Definitely one of the youngest entrepreneur in the travel industry, she has been a national-level Basketball player, a state-level Hockey player, a professional instructor at Ashley Lobo and has tried her hand at every adventure sport you can possibly think of, ranging from sky diving to rock climbing, scuba diving, parasailing and more. Komal Seth, who has seen many ups and downs in life, shoulders a maturity that many at double her age fail to carry. Though she is seen at almost every trade party, adding the much-needed spunk to it, she is a teetotaler and carries her ‘dabba’ aka her dose of healthy meal everywhere she goes. Our exclusive feature on this young self-preneur will surely leave you in awe of this magnetic personality.
Priyanka Saxena Ray
I had heard much about her office and from all that I had seen on social media, I was truly excited to visit it, and I was certainly not disappointed. Having been covered by the Little Black Book and Good Times by NDTV and been called West Delhi’s Green Den, it’s an open yet cosy little chirpy place that is buzzing with positive energy all through the day, a hub where lunch is not eaten in cabins, but together in an open breezy green space, shedding differences of departments and hierarchy.
Born in an affluent business family, Komal is a complete Delhiite who did her graduation from LSR and JMC in Sociology and is mostly remembered for her hockey skills used not only on ground but also on other fellow students. Since she did not wanted to join her father’s restaurant and catering business, she went on to intern with a trade media company doing menial jobs for a year. Adding a degree on Travel and Hospitality by City & Guilds Switzerland, she came back to become a key player in the marketing team involved in opening the Select City Walk in New Delhi. Her extended family pull in the USA acted as a magnet and they were all keen that she settles down in America. However, Komal wanted to set up her base in India only and had no plans or wish to leave the country.
“I joined Kuoni Outbound as Head Marketing for North India and worked with them for 2 years. Soon after that I became the India Country Head for Philippines – a responsibility I shouldered for a year before taking a small break. I went to USA yet again to travel and contemplate on the future professional course I need to take in life. When I came back, my father started pushing me to join the family business, which was on an all-time low and to escape it, I decided it was time to jump in the entrepreneurial ring and start my own company,” she recalls with a laugh.
However, she was the one being laughed at when she started her own company (LINKIN REPS) because among many things, Maths, accounting and finance were few things that she was never good at and which were the key ingredients for running a professional set-up. Four years down the lane, she is now the investment advisor for the entire family who handles almost all aspects of her business independently and successfully. “While we started with small contractual clients, our first big account was Sri Lankan Airlines, which was a significant win that involved big names in the PR circle. Since this was a PR account, I appointed experienced people for both PR and Social Media because I wanted to not only do justice to the principal I had acquired but also make a lasting impression with them,” she admits. As she progressed, many other representation clients were added to the list but another big one came to them in June last year – Turkey. “There were many people who were bidding for it but we only got that contract because we are an honest company – completely open and transparent,” adds Komal.
Not all stages in life are same and for Komal, she faced some really low plateaus before achieving her peaks. “My mother was diagnosed with blood cancer when I was almost at the peak of my professional journey. In a blink I decided to let it all go and stay with my mother because for me, nothing is more important than family. But my other family, my team at LINKIN Reps told me that they would hold the forte in my absence and for a year and half, I worked out of a hospital canteen,” she recalls.
As we were having this conversation, her mother breezes in her office with the quintessential ‘dabba’ and instructs Komal to ensure that her “friend” doesn’t leave office on an empty stomach. The warmth and the chemistry they share is palpable in the room and one cannot help but be awed by it. While we all can achieve great echelons in life, what helps us all stay real is our family, the values they instilled in us and the ethics with which we run our business.
“The travel industry has been a nice place and just like any other, it too has its positives and negatives. However, the Delhi industry needs to grow and be more realistic than what it is today. Commitments made should be kept and people should be appreciate for who they are, and not just what they are wearing – a subtle but important difference. Going forward, I don’t see myself being restricted only to the travel, though that will always remain my first love. Travelling has made me a better person, more compassionate and less judgmental,” says Komal.
She participates in car rallies, not just in India but also abroad and her best de-stressing tool is to cook healthy dishes in air-fryer. While Komal looks up to her mother, she is extremely close to her dad and grandmother, whose videos form an important part of her Insta updates. Young, vivacious, full of energy and extremely mature, having met her and known her personally, I can safely say that Komal Seth has an extremely bright future ahead of her.
